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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017
WORLD IN BRIEF
Associated Press
Spicer resigns position as
White House press secretary
WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Sean
Spicer, President Donald Trump’s embattled spokesman
during the first six months of his presidency, is resigning
his position, according to two people with knowledge of the
decision.
Spicer’s decision appears to be linked to the appointment
of a new White House communications director, New York
financier Anthony Scaramucci. The people with knowledge of
the decision spoke on condition of anonymity because they
were not authorized to discuss the personnel matter publicly.
Spicer’s daily press briefings had become must-see tele-
vision until recent weeks when he took on a more behind-
the-scenes role. Deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sand-
ers has largely taken over the briefings, turning them into an
off-camera event.
Spicer spent several years leading communications at the
Republican National Committee before helping Trump’s cam-
paign in the general election. He is close to White House chief
of staff Reince Priebus, the former RNC chair, and several
of the lower-ranking aides in the White House communica-
tions shop.
Scaramucci is expected to play a visible role as one of
Trump’s defenders on television. But Spicer and other offi-
cials questioned his hiring as communications director ahead
of the president’s push to overhaul the tax system and other
policy issues. One of the officials said Spicer objected to
Trump’s vision for the future of the press operation.
Tougher distracted driving law
to take effect in Washington
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington drivers will have to put
down their phones or else face tougher penalties under a new
distracted driving law that takes effect this weekend.
Texting or holding a phone to your ear is already against
the law in the state, but the new measure now prohibits any-
thing else that requires drivers to hold their electronic devices
— including phones, tablets and other electronic gadgets —
while behind the wheel. That means no reading of incoming
text messages while driving, or watching a quick video while
stuck in traffic or sitting at a red light.
“If you’re on the road, you’re off the phone,” said Dar-
rin Grondel, director of the Washington Traffic Safety
Commission.
Under the measure, “the minimal use of a finger” to acti-
vate, deactivate, or initiate a function of a personal electronic
device while driving is still allowed.
The standard traffic fine of $136 would apply to a first
offense but would increase to about $234 for a second offense.
The first distracted driving offense would also be reportable to
insurance companies, which could raise rates like any other
moving violation.
Another section of the new law also says a person who
engages in “any activity not related to the actual operation of a
motor vehicle” — like eating or putting on makeup — is sub-
ject to pay an additional fine of $99. It only applies if an offi-
cer catches a driver being distracted while committing a stan-
dard traffic offense, such as running a stop sign because their
coffee spilled.
Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
Oregon Department of Forestry personnel in the Astoria district are busy preparing equipment and vehicles for what
authorities are saying could be an above-average fire season. More photos online at DailyAstorian.com
Fire season: District has six engines at its disposal
Continued from Page 1A
At the start of the season,
open burning was banned with
a few exceptions, including
permitted burn barrels, as well
as recreational fires in desig-
nated areas that follow strict
guidelines, such as attending
them at all times and build-
ing them no closer than 50
feet from dune grass or 15 feet
from a structure. But starting
Saturday, further restrictions
will include a ban on all camp-
fires and nonindustrial use of
chain saws.
Particularly in Clatsop
County and for reasons not
entirely known, most forest
fires are caused by people,
Protection Unit Forester Neal
Bond said.
Danger levels
The firefighters cover about
450,000 acres during their reg-
Routine maintenance of equipment such as fire hoses is
standard practice at the Oregon Department of Forestry
district headquarters in Astoria as crews and other per-
sonnel prepare for fire season.
ular patrols. During their shifts,
they also update the 10 fire-
danger-level signs throughout
the county, as needed. Officials
are hoping this season will be
as calm as the 2016 period,
which was a significant relief
from the three previous years.
In case of a large wildfire,
such as the 48,000-acre blaze
currently ripping through the
foothills of the Sierra Nevada
mountains in California, the
district has six engines at its
disposal. Five of them hold
400 gallons of water, while
another can carry a 1,300-gal-
lon tank. The district also owns
a dump truck that can be con-
verted to hold a 2,000-gallon
tank. Other resources include
3/4-inch to 1 1/2-inch hoses
and a smaller 80-gallon tank
that can be easily transported
in smaller trucks.
When necessary, the dis-
trict has varying levels of
access to 30 different aircraft
stationed in other parts of the
state as well as southern Wash-
ington. The Astoria office also
works with other districts, as
well as rural fire departments
in the area,
“We help each other out and
share resources, as needed,”
Bond said.
Bond said fire seasons typi-
cally last through the first cou-
ple weeks of October depend-
ing on rain levels.
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